Ellington

FVCC to drop its plumbing program

The Flathead Valley Community College Board of Trustees voted Monday to drop its plumbing certificate, add back an updated administrative assistant program with a new name and expand its medical coding certificate to become an associate’s degree.

Glacier teachers to fly with NASA

A team of four Glacier High School teachers will fly high in the sky conducting experiments in February.

William E. 'Bill' Phillips, 83

Politics for profit? No thanks

Say what you will about the mainstream media and old-school journalism, but sometimes the power and prestige of a dinosaur like “60 Minutes” is just what it takes to get people’s attention.

Man arrested after apparently driving drunk

Deputies with the

Group home attracts some opposition

At Tuesday’s meeting of the Kalispell City Planning Board, several people opposed the location of a Montana Academy group home for troubled youths in their neighborhood.

Two senators add their voices to postal opposition

Local meeting planned tonight

Montana’s two senators are voicing their “total disagreement” with the Postal Service’s plan to close mail processing operations in Kalispell and Missoula and fold them into larger operations in Spokane.

Ultimate ski bum

Craig Moore hikes back up Grinnell Glacier in Glacier National Park for more ski turns in August 2009. He has skied at least one day every month for 48 consecutive months.

Spawning run lures anglers to river

Lake Superior whitefish making their fall move

The annual run of Lake Superior whitefish into the Flathead River is in full swing.

City wants more input for urban renewal plan

First session planned tonight

With three open houses scheduled, Kalispell city officials say they want more public input to help flesh out the recently expanded West Side Urban Renewal Plan.

Lack of snow at Big Mountain

There is not enough snow to cover the grass underneath Chair Two at Whitefish Mountain Resort. The lack of snow could push back Saturday’s planned opening day of the ski season.

William 'Bill' Phillips

Great Condition! 2009 Honda Accord Coupe. Clean Interior. Red Exterior/

31 E Nicklaus $169,000 each 257-8339 605 W. Oregon

Good Shape!! 2002 Hyundai Accent GS, 105k miles, hatch back

LOW MILES!! 1990 Ford F150, 76k Original miles, V8

Excellent Condition 2008 Chevy wheel Chair Van, lowered floor, kneel

HARD TO FIND

Looks/Runs Perfectly 2006 Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, ext cab, 4x4

The Bullet Nose 1950 Studebaker Champion, 4 door sedan, all

Children's House Montessori School Is currently enrolling new students in

VERY CLEAN! 1988 Ford 4x4 Supercab F250 Lariat XLT

WINTER RATES! Bigfork/Woods Bay 3+Bdrm 2 bath Large garage, very

WELL MAINTAINED 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis LS, Excellent Condition, Fully

30 Bruyer Way Lovely 3bdrm, 2 bath single level townhouse.

A Christmas Forest

Marie AuClaire, manager of Soucie and Soucie Salon in Kalipsell begins to add lights to her Christmas tree forest outside the shop on Wednesday afternoon. Auclaire has been doing the decorations since 1996. This year's theme is Demure Voyagers, which is based on Steam Punk culture.

The Sound of Music

Amy Beth Chisholm as Maria is surrounded by the von Trapp children as they perform "Favorite Things" during dress rehearsal on Tuesday night in Whitefish.

Man turns himself in to deputies on warrant

Deputies with the

Manager charts ambitious course for city

With just four weeks left on the job, Kalispell City Manager Jane Howington is planning an aggressive agenda for the City Council during December.

Alvin Lee 'Monty' Montgomery, 78

Clifford A. 'Smokey' Metcalf, 91

Clifford A. “Smokey” Metcalf, 91, died peacefully after a brief battle with cancer, in Kalispell on Nov. 28, 2011.

Jerome Maitland 'Jerry' Boyle, 73

Jerome Maitland “Jerry” Boyle, 73, passed away Nov. 24, 2011, at the Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation.

Betty L. Claridge Miller, 82

Betty L. Claridge Miller, 82, passed away at Immanuel Lutheran Home on Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, after a 14-year battle with Alzheimer’s.

Development group closing in on land for rail/industrial park

Efforts to develop a rail-served industrial park for Flathead County are gaining steam, with the Flathead County Economic Development Authority negotiating to purchase a gravel pit owned by Knife River Corp.

Man pleads guilty to DUI

A 60-year-old Columbia Falls man pleaded guilty Wednesday to driving under the influence, a felony due to three prior convictions, during a change of plea hearing in Flathead County District Court.

County not responsible for mailbox damage

Mailboxes and snowplows sometimes don’t mix well, Flathead County Public Works Director Dave Prunty says.

Richard S. 'Rick' Bear, 58

Deer season not over on area's roadways

Deer season may be over in the woods, but every day it’s still a version of deer season on area roadways.

Glacier Gateway Elementary Math Contest

Donna Bryan prepares to give out Noetic Learning Math Contest medals on Tuesday afternoon at Glacier Gateway Elementary in Columbia Falls. Two fourth graders, Noah Golan and Samuel Lovering, were tied for the highest marks in the school and were therefore both awarded medals for being in the top 90 percent and for being team leaders.

Industrial park

The former McElroy & Wilken gravel pit just off of Whitefish Stage Road could become a rail-served industrial park. Knife River Corp., the current owner of the property, is working to clean up the site to sell it to the Flathead County Economic Development Authority.

Rail-served Industrial Park

The 40-acre property just off of Whitefish Stage Road could soon be a rail-served industrial park. Knife River Corp., the current owner of the property, is working to clean up the site in order to sell it to the Flathead County Economic Development Authority.

This Week In Pictures November 21-27

Ice Fishing

Skyler McKinzie of Kalispell does some ice fishing on Smith Lake on Tuesday morning near Kila. McKinzie said he has been keeping an eye on the ice for a while now waiting for the right time to come out. He is hoping the weather will be cold enough this weekend to head out onto McWenneger Slough.

Mallard Hens Near Smith Lake

A pair of Mallard hens swimming on Truman Creek on Tuesday morning near Kila.

McDonald's Retirement

Terry Hamik is retiring from McDonald’s after 32 years, eight months and seven days.

Missing hunter found safe

After an extended ground and aerial search led by the Flathead County Sheriff's Office, a lost hunter was found by a logger Monday afternoon in the Star Meadow area west of Whitefish.

More hunters afield, but success is limited

While the deer harvest picked up during the last two weeks of the 2011 big game hunting season, total counts at six Northwest Montana check stations still lagged behind last year.

Did big bad wolf get away with murder?

The

Terrance Frank Grilley, 74

Terrance Frank Grilley, 74, of Kalispell, passed away Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, in Lewistown. 

Irene Agnes Corbett, 102

Irene Agnes Corbett, 102, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 24, 2011, at Brendan House.

Frequent captive

This 18-year-old female grizzly was put down after it was captured Nov. 21. She had been captured and relocated nine times in 11 years. This photo was taken during a previous capture several years ago.

Man robs Kalispell convenience store

Kalispell Police are investigating an armed robbery Monday morning at a convenience store on First Avenue East.

Irene Corbett

Wreath Making

Marilyn Brady works on decorating a Christmas wreath on Monday morning at Snow Line Tree Company. Brady has been decorating for Snow Line for 15 years.

Shopping for Trees

Shopping for Trees Jane Matthies of Kalipsell stops by Snow Line Tree Company on Monday morning as she shops for a tree.

Keys left in auto reported stolen

Sunday morning, someone from Fifth Avenue East North visited the

Overcrowding

Cliff Bennett, director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter, sits with Kya, a yellow lab currently available for adoption. The shelter is overcrowded and running a special on Labs. They are $35 off or two for the price of one.

Christmas wish list

Longtime shelter boarders need homes

Cliff Bennett, director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter, is asking Santa for new homes for more of his canine residents.

Monday Profile

Kalispell native Zach Block, right, is making a career as a Hollywood filmmaker. His first feature-length movie, "Fathoms Deep," which he wrote, directed and acted in, was released last month. He is shown here with producer Russell Whaley.

Filmmaker finds success in Hollywood

Zach Block credits his bike with giving him his start in Hollywood.

Congress needs to learn from Montana's example

Democrats and Republicans in Congress have dropped the ball once again. The two parties are unable to make an agreement on how to reduce the national debt, unable to set aside their differences, their egos and their electoral agendas, and find a way to put our country first.  It’s politics first, country second.

Occupy Eden: How did that turn out?

One of the chief complaints of Occupy Wall Street is economic inequality. And because Americans have been conditioned to abhor inequality, thousands of us have been lured to support the movement out of an honest desire to achieve a fair and equitable distribution of wealth.

Return postal plan to sender

The U.S. Postal Service appears hell-bent on continuing with a thick-headed, Soviet central planning approach toward cutting costs and improving efficiency by providing an increasingly inferior service.

Free clinic responds to growing need for health care

No job, no money, no insurance.

Audrey Poehling, 87

Audrey Poehling of Whitefish passed away peacefully Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011.

Jeanette Burness, 92

Jeanette Carter Burness died peacefully in her home at The Springs at Whitefish on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011. She lived a long, healthy, active life, recently celebrating her 92nd birthday.

Craig Charles McIntosh, 49

Craig Charles McIntosh, 49, passed away on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011, at his home in Kalispell.

Kalispell Regional Medical Center

Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake

Man gets 2-year sentence for sexual assault

A 37-year-old Kalispell man received a 20-year sentence with 18 years suspended Wednesday in Flathead County District Court after being convicted of felony sexual assault in a jury trial.

Help for the discouraged, overwhelmed

Emily Nichols, a volunteer registered nurse, cares for a patient at the Shepherd’s Hand free clinic in Whitefish.

Man pleads innocent to sex abuse

A 53-year-old Polebridge man pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of sexual abuse of children Wednesday in Flathead District Court.

Salary data is public information

Nearly all Montana hospitals are nonprofit organizations — and that means salaries and other compensation for their top executives and highest-paid physicians are public information.

Colin D. MacLean, 84

Colin D. MacLean, 84, passed away on Oct. 24, 2011, at home.

Discussion of asbestos cleanup underway

Hospital execs command sizable pay

Chief executives at Montana’s largest hospitals pulled down salaries and bonus payments ranging from $250,000 to $580,000 for 2009 — although most had relatively small or no increases in a year marked by a faltering state and national economy.

Woman's wrist broken in assault

Officers with the

Teenager, 16, sentenced for assaulting child

A 16-year-old Flathead Valley boy was sentenced in Flathead District Court on Wednesday for sexual assault on a 6-year-old girl.

Land trust houses now available qualifying buyers

After two years of development, it’s open house time for the Northwest Montana Community Land Trust and its 16 houses, all former foreclosures, up for sale in Kalispell.

Shepherd's Hand has its own brand to brew

Sipping a cup of coffee can now benefit Shepherd’s Hand free clinic in Whitefish.

Free variety show Dec. 2 helps free clinic

There’s something different about this year’s “Christmas in the Air” variety show on Friday, Dec. 2 — it’s free.

Preparing for the Christmas Season

Ray Boksich of Whitefish hangs Christmas lights at his house on Saturday afternoon. He and his wife started hanging lights on Friday, this is a yearly after Thanksgiving tradition for the family.

Midnight madness: Sleepless shoppers hit the stores

Doorbuster deals and earlier-than-usual store openings on Black Friday pushed the “shop till you drop” mantra to a whole new level in the Flathead Valley this year.

Errant shot hits pickup passenger

Deputies with the

Flathead school leaders get immersed in educational system of distant culture

From left, Matt Jensen, Ann Minckler and Todd Fiske pose in front of a statue of Confucius.

Black Friday at Shopko

Jennifer Adams is silhouetted as she carries her purchases away from Shopko in the pre-dawn hours of Black Friday. Adams, from Sparwood, B.C., came down for the shoppping specials.

Black Friday at Kmart

Griff Price of Lethbridge, Alberta, looks intently down the aisles as he makes his way through Kmart in Evergreen early Friday.

Letters from Santa

Intruder found with bloody hands

Officers with the Kalispell Police Department arrested a man after he was apprehended by a homeowner when he broke into the home. The man had broken glass in a door and several windows. He had been drinking and his hands were bloody.

'The Saga of Rosie' - An old mare gets a second chance at life

At an age of close to 20, Rosie lives up to the children’s song — the old mare “ain’t what she used to be.”

Ambassador spruces up city's downtown

For 52-year-old Paul Faessel, it’s all about first impressions and paying attention to the details in downtown Kalispell.

Throwing red flag at ESPN

It’s time for Montanans to crank up the crowd noise.

Firefighters issue driving reminders

With winter weather in the Flathead Valley and a large number of wrecks reported in recent weeks, the Kalispell Fire Department has issued tips to help people drive safely in snowy and icy conditions:

State clarifies rules for nonprofit taxi services

A new ruling by the Montana Public Service Commission clarifies how nonprofit taxi services must operate and likely will affect services such as The Ride Guy taxi service based in Whitefish.

County ready to unveil revised growth plan

A lengthy review and updating process for the Flathead County growth policy is nearly complete, the county’s planning director says.

Kyson Noah Trinh

Kyson Noah Trinh, son of Thomas Trinh and Shannon Forsman of Kalispell, was born July 23 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Madylynn LeAnn Feldt

Madylynn LeAnn Feldt, daughter of Christy Davis of Kalispell, was born July 22 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Robert 'Bob' Arthur Kienas, 77

College hosts two giving trees to benefit CASA

The Daily Inter Lake

Emily Renee Dickinson

Emily Renee Dickinson, daughter of Jeremiah Dickinson and Sara Smith of Kalispell, was born July 25 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Paul Faessel

Paul Faessel sweeps the sidewalk on the corner of 1st Avenue West in downtown Kalispell earlier this year.

Aislin Nicole Moir

Aislin Nicole Moir, daughter of Tyson and Shana Moir of Kalispell, was born July 25 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Mackenzie Jane Pomerantz

Mackenzie Jane Pomerantz, daughter of Ben and Alison Pomerantz of Kalispell, was born July 26 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

'A day of public thanksgiving'

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Dillon Slack

Dillon Slack, son of Laci and David Slack Jr., of Kalispell, was born July 25 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Mine comment period extended until Dec. 21

 The public comment period has been extended for a mining project near Libby.

Overcrowding at the Flathead County Animal Shelter

Cliff Bennett, director of the Flathead County Animal Shelter, sits with Kya, a yellow lab currently available for adoption, on Wednesday afternoon. The shelter is facing overcrowding issues as 70 dogs are currently housed in the 53 kennels. The shelter is running a special on Labs right now, they are $35 off or two for the price of one.

Senators push for football TV change

Montana Sen. Jon Tester is weighing in on the ESPN decision to broadcast University of Montana and Montana State University playoff games exclusively through an online channel that won't be available to most state residents.

Bailey Joseph Caban

Bailey Joseph Caban, son of Emmett Caban and Alaina Hindle of Kalispell, was born July 12 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Kalispell accepts federal funding for river repairs

Kalispell will tap up to $424,970 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to repair stretches of riverbank damaged by spring flooding on the Stillwater River.

Cole Wayne Martinez

Cole Wayne Martinez, son of Luke and Kimberly Martinez, was born July 27 at North Valley Hospital.

George Patterson Ruddy

George Patterson Ruddy, son of Ben and Diana Ruddy of Lakeside was born July 12 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Jobless rate worsens in Flathead County

Unemployment in Flathead County is back in double digits at 10.9 percent for October.

Cassandra Rae Percy

Cassandra Rae Percy, daughter of Robert and Tazarae Percy of Kalispell, was born July 15 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Hunter kills grizzly bear by mistake

A hunter has pleaded guilty in Lincoln County Justice Court to shooting a grizzly bear he mistakenly identified as a black bear.

'Hoodlums, knock it off,' mayor tells taggers

With a rash of graffiti and tagging around Kalispell, Police Chief Roger Nasset said he will provide regular updates to the Kalispell City Council on efforts to curb the vandalism.

Teen dies in snowmobile accident

Riley Renea Hubbs

Riley Renea Hubbs, daughter of Clyde and Britney Hubbs of Kalispell, was born July 21 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Need is great for food, shelter

Charitable groups in the Flathead Valley say they are seeing higher demand for their help this Thanksgiving.

Audrionna Reann Benton

Audrionna Reann Benton, daughter of Samantha Benton of Columbia Falls, was born July 19 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Aurora Lynn McGinnis

Aurora Lynn McGinnis, daughter of Brad and Sara McGinnis of Kalispell, was born July 14 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Bella Renee O'Neil

Bella Renee O’Neil, daughter of Sean and Leah O’Neil of Kalispell, was born July 13 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Brooklyn RaeAnn Magers

 Brooklyn RaeAnn Magers, daughter of Chhristopher Magers and Merissa Cameron of Kalispell, was born July 15 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Hailie Lynn Adams

Hailie Lynn Adams, daughter of Asher Hefty and Alicia Adams, was born July 11 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Man goes to prison for fourth DUI

A Bigfork man was sentenced to two years in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to his fourth DUI as well as a charge of felony criminal endangerment.

Citations issued to 17 people for underage drinking

A total of 17 people were issued citations Friday for underage consumption of alcohol in connection with two separate incidents in Kalispell and Evergreen, according to a press release from the Alcohol Enforcement Team.

Drunk man reportedly tried to break down door

Deputies with the

Jackson Steven Myers

Jackson Steven Myers, son of Chad and Emily Myers of Kalispell, was born July 15 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Ellissabeth Llynn Allexis Miller

Ellissabeth Llynn Allexis Miller, daughter of Brandon James and Crystal Mergenthaler of Woods Bay, was born July 18 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Audrey Rose Love

Audrey Rose Love, daughter of Cody Love and Shelby West of Kalispell, was born July 20 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Matthew Tyler Jackson

Matthew Tyler Jackson, son of Jon and Sierra Jackson of Kalispell, was born July 13 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Land donated for new West Shore Food Bank

The West Shore communities now have land for a new food bank, thanks to an anonymous benefactor who has donated a parcel on Bills Road in Lakeside.

Amelia Elsa Sarkkinen

Amelia Elsa Sarkkinen, daughter of Danny and Tammy Sarkkinen of Kalispell, was born July 13 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Avery Parish Guillory

Avery Parish Guillory, daughter of Kevin and Leanne Guillory of Kalispell, was born July 21 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Jenessa Lee Winters

Jenessa Lee Winters, daughter of Brad Winters and Autumn LaBuff of Hungry Horse, was born July 13 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

Thanksgiving Feast

From left, Justin Dyon, 6, of Whitefish, plays with his turkey hat at the Whitefish Christian Academy Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday afternoon.

'People are still hurting'

Tickets were given out to claim turkeys being given to families in need Tuesday afternoon at the North Valley Food Bank in Whitefish.

Downtown Decorating

Cathi Spence of Think Local hangs lights and greenery at her Main Street shop on Tuesday afternoon in Kalispell. Think Local is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day until Christmas Eve.

Patricia Johnson

Patricia M. Johnson, 88

Patricia M. Johnson, 88, passed away Nov. 19, 2011, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center.

Kathryn Stewart Mitchell, 95

Kathryn Stewart Mitchell passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Darrell Stout

Darrell 'Murphy' Stout, 89

Darrell "Murphy" Stout, 89, died peacefully at Parma Living Center in Parma, Idaho, on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011.

Philip Hanson

Philip Charles Hanson, 79

Philip Charles Hanson died Sunday, Nov. 20, 2011, at the family home with his wife, Sue, by his side. Phil was 79 years of age and passed after a lengthy battle with cancer.

Woman charged after driving into house

Flathead's Sackett, Johnson all-state in volleyball

Hannah Sackett, a Flathead High School senior, and Kwyn Johnson, a FHS junior, have been named to the Class AA all-state volleyball first team.

County gears up for doughnut zoning

Flathead County commissioners agreed Monday to start the process toward governing zoning and planning issues in the two-mile area surrounding the city of Whitefish.

Results are in from doughnut survey

Flathead County officials mailed out 3,525 surveys to property owners in the two-mile doughnut around Whitefish last month, seeking feedback related to zoning and planning issues in that area.

Wolf harvest picking up in NW Montana

Heading into the final week of the big game hunting season, the deer and elk harvest picked up but still lags behind last year's numbers while the wolf harvest is approaching quotas for a few Northwest Montana hunting districts.

Writers group honors Whitefish author

By KRISTI ALBERTSON

Holiday cookies: Favorite recipes with a twist of cheer

This Week in Pictures November 14-20

Driver ends up in Kalispell caller's backyard

Saturday evening, a caller on Empire Loop told the

Sweetiepie at the Conrad

Sweetiepie, the dark brown and orange tortoise-shell calico cat at the Conrad Mansion, sits on the corner of Michael Kofford's desk.

Book reveals Conrad calico's sweet life

Sweetiepie, a dark brown and orange tortoise-shell calico cat, lives in a mansion in Kalispell with a large staff at her beck and call.

Whitefish considers reprioritizing street projects

With a blessing from the Resort Tax Monitoring Committee, the Whitefish City Council tonight will consider moving the Second Street East reconstruction project higher up on the priority list for street projects paid for with resort-tax revenue.

Kathryn Sadie (Loraas) Moore

Kathryn Sadie (Loraas) Moore, 58

Kathryn Sadie (Loraas) Moore, 58, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2011, in Kalispell.

Who do you support for the GOP presidential nomination?

NASA photo

 The launch arc from the rocket carrying E1P-2 is shown in this time exposure.

Nationals shake Quake in OT

WHITEFISH - Kyle Watne scored at the 3:20 mark of overtime, lifting the Glacier Nationals to a 5-4 victory Saturday over the Yellowstone Quake (10-10) to close out an eight-game homestand.

Nadine Lyons Hubble, 22

Kory James Hubble

A lady named Max made me into a singer

 After a long hiatus, I have rejoined the alto section of the choir at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish.

Ava Emily (Harder) Toavs, 75

Flathead Valley schools tops in tournament

Flathead Valley schools took top spots in the Kalispell Western Regional Speech and Debate Tournament Friday and Saturday.

Whitefish couple arrested in alleged rape of babysitter

A Whitefish couple was arrested Friday after being charged with the rape of their babysitter, a minor.

Paul Dunham Marvel, 86

Daybook

Sunday

Leslie 'Les' Wayne Erickson, 59

Leslie “Les” Wayne Erickson, 59, died suddenly Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011, at his residence in Columbia Falls.

Sidney 'Si' Gorton, 90

Multiple car accidents reported

Winter weather continues to be an issue in Flathead County and Lake County, resulting in a multitude of vehicular accidents. Flathead County logged 24 accidents between 6:54 a.m. Friday and 2:15 p.m. Saturday, while Lake County logged 37 accidents between 12:31 a.m. and 6:21 p.m. on Friday alone.

Douglas Anthony Heald, 68

Flathead grad helped build satellite circling Earth

The third time proved a charm for putting Montana’s first satellite into orbit.

Nancy Lee Anderson-Andrews, 61

Nancy Lee Anderson-Andrews, of Kooskia, Idaho, passed away Nov. 5, 2011, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident near McCall, Idaho.    

New life for a vintage building

The Flathead County Courthouse is slowly coming back to life after a $2.7 million renovation.

Let's fix what ails us: A deficit of common sense

The words of Sen. Max Baucus in the Congressional Record are admirable: “Giant deficits are killing us. ... Clearly we cannot keep borrowing this way. We must act.”

Sen. Baucus: 'Try or do nothing'

I believe we have two choices in life: try or do nothing.

Rescued Arabian mare

Cheryl Bergerson inspects a large sore on the back of Rosie, an Arabian mix mare she rescued, at her ranch in Columbia Falls Saturday morning.

Forest offers Christmas tree permits

Christmas tree permits from the Flathead National Forest are available for $5 each from Forest Service offices in Kalispell, Hungry Horse, and Bigfork, as well as from a variety of vendors across the valley.

Deer poached at Eagle Bend Golf Course

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is seeking information on a deer poaching incident at the Eagle Bend Golf Course on Thursday evening.

Program sends mail to heroes

 For the fifth year, the American Red Cross has joined Pitney Bowes to deliver holiday greetings to service members, their families and veterans throughout the holiday season.

Woman faces federal charges

A 57-year-old Kalispell woman was arraigned in federal court last week in Missoula.

Woman faces series of charges

A 23-year-old woman facing multiple charges stemming from an incident on Oct. 6 pleaded not guilty to all of them recently in Flathead District Court before Judge David Ortley.

Injured youth home to continue recovery

About seven weeks ago doctors were not sure 18-year-old Daniel “Dano” Busick would survive severe brain injuries after a 20-foot fall onto rock.

Kalispell blues band gets raves in Spokane

Kalispell’s own Kenny James Miller Band has been named Best New Blues Band by the Inland Empire Blues Society.

Nationals Hockey

Glacier forward Danny Roe (3) challenges Yellowstone's Josh Little (8) during the Glacier Nationals' loss to the Yellowstone Quake Friday night at the Stumptown Ice Den.

William G. Lawler Sr., 88

William G. Lawler Sr., 88, passed away at his home Nov. 15, 2011, in Trego.

Preparedness turns to need for fire victims

Hayley Matthews was all ready for winter.

Charles Leonard Reeves, 63

Chuck “went to be with his Savior” on Nov. 16, 2011.

Haruko Gibo Frith, 82

Haruko was born on Aug. 3, 1929, in Okinawa, Japan, and peacefully passed away, “returning to her Heavenly Father,” on Nov. 12, 2011, at Grace Assisted Living's Memory Care Unit in Meridian, Idaho, following a nine-year battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Kalispell Western Regional Speech and Debate Tournament

 Patrick Cote/Daily Inter Lake

After the fire

Darien Matthews makes her way through the remains of the family home Friday afternoon east of Kalispell. The Matthews’ house was destroyed by a fire Wednesday. In the background Kaden Matthews, 10, picks his way through the rubble.

dil black friday

Sweetiepie at the Conrad

Sweetiepie, the dark brown and orange tortoise-shell calico cat at the Conrad Mansion, sits on the corner of Michael Kofford's desk on Tuesday November 8, in Kalispell.

Sunset on the Flathead River

A view of the Flathead River and the Swan Mountains catching the last rays of sunlight on Thursday afternoon from Holt Stage Road in Kalispell.

Courthouse renovations complete

Brian Hunt makes his way down the main staircase at the newly renovated Flathead County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

Northwest Ballet Co. brings holiday classic to life

Some children, while nestled all snug in their beds, dream of visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. Other children dispense with dreaming and dance that vision.

Ida E. Penney (Fisher) Johnson, 95

Quest for new city manager gets under way

The Daily Inter Lake

Sykes' signing up volunteer help for annual dinner

If you have a hankering to help peel 700 pounds of potatoes or clean up after 1,200 people, Sykes’ Restaurant and Market can use you.

Haruko Gibo Frith, 82

Work starts on Reserve Drive South

Work started this week on the Hutton Ranch Connector or Reserve Drive South project.

Darleen Rae 'Deana' Ridgway, 48

Deana passed away unexpectedly in Spokane on Nov. 7, 2011, at the age of 48.

Let's get ready to rumble!

If it’s like most of the preceding gridiron matchups between the University of Montana and Montana State University, the 111th “Brawl of the Wild” should be an unpredictable barn-burner.

Aina L. Dutro, 85

Aina L. Dutro passed away peacefully on Nov. 14, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Man linked to huge drug ring

A Kalispell man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a northern Colorado drug ring.

Local financial planner earns Great Chief award

Jeannie Luckey, Kalispell branch manager for Raymond James Financial Services, has been named the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce Great Chief.

Slick roads cause several crashes

Emergency responders were kept busy throughout the day Thursday, responding to 13 motor vehicle accidents between 7:15 and 11:31 a.m., largely due to wet and snowy roads throughout the valley.

Pair earn top Chamber honors

Greg Eisinger and Debbie Pierce have earned the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s top business awards.

Ethel Diane (Clayborn) Mattingly, 56

Ethel Diane (Clayborn) Mattingly, 56, “was called home on the wings of an eagle to be with the Lord, her parents and sisters” on Nov. 15, 2011, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation in Whitefish.

Trio plead innocent to break-ins

Three men charged in the Oct. 26 break-in and robbery of Gardner’s RV and Trailer Center pleaded not guilty Thursday morning before Flathead District Judge Katherine Curtis.

Dr. Pete Smith

Dr. Pete Smith jokes about having to keep a bird guide in his office at Kalispell Regional Medical Center to help his co-workers identify birds they have seen.

Who do you support for GOP presidential nomination?

Syke's Grocery Store Opens

Mickey Brand and Ryan Nendick arrange produce at Sykes new grocery store on Tuesday morning in Kalispell.

The Reserve Drive South project

A Caterpillar 627E Motor Scraper is silhouetted against a stormy sky Thursday morning at the Hutton Ranch Connector or Reserve Drive South project in Kalispell.

Thanksgiving Celebration Concert and Food Drive

From right, Liz Jones, Margaret Baylinson, and Jessica Trefz sing Bless the Lord, O My Soul from the Russian Liturgy by Mikail Ippolitov-Ivanov at rehearsal on Wednesday night at the Gateway West Mall in Kalispell. "We're thinking globally and acting locally," said choir member Wendy Marshall. "We care about the Flathead Valley and teh whole world and we want to do something for hungry people, especially at Thanksgiving time."

Nutcracker: Snow Queen

Riley Freeman dances the role of the Snow Queen.

Thanksgiving reunion

Gina Boyes shows a picture she just took to her son Tyson on Nov. 15 during a gathering at Pizza Hut in Kalispell.

Flathead Food Bank Turkey

From left, Skip Stout, Lori Botkin, Sunny Miller, Errin Glencross, Robert Glencross and Whitney Spencer at the Flathead Food Bank Wednesday afternoon.

Alleged members of meth ring plead innocent

Five people allegedly involved in a methamphetamine trafficking ring pleaded not guilty to a variety of charges recently in Flathead District Court.

Floyd Edgar 'Mac' McHenry, 90

Teen pleads guilty to rape of young girl

A 16-year-old Kalispell youth pleaded guilty to felony charges of sexual intercourse without consent Thursday in Flathead District Court before Judge David Ortley.

Stella Hammons Flanagan, 85

Stella Hammons Flanagan passed away peacefully, Nov. 15, 2011, with her family at her side.

Esther Georgina Henrietta Becker, 93

Esther Georgina Henrietta Becker “went with the angels” on Nov. 16, 2011. 

Law agencies search for drug trafficking evidence

Two local law enforcement agencies assisted in the execution of criminal search warrants in Kalispell, Whitefish and Somers on Wednesday as part of the culmination of a yearlong multi-agency investigation into marijuana trafficking activities.

Lake County election complaint dismissed

Family escapes burning home

A Middle Road family will be forced to start over following a massive fire that destroyed their home Wednesday morning.

Panel considers transportation impact fees

Kalispell’s impact fee committee meets tonight to consider how much the city should charge for transportation impact fees over the next two years.

Trespassing report results in arrest

Deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office arrested a woman after responding to a report of trespassing at a home on Conrad Drive. A neighbor who was watching the home for its residents while they were out of town reported that two people who weren’t supposed to be there had entered the home. Deputies located three people but only the woman was arrested.

Man pleads innocent to three charges

A Columbia Falls man charged with felony criminal endangerment,

A distraction in Senate race?

One clear thing that has emerged from the fight over border control legislation supported by Rep. Denny Rehberg is that the issue has become thoroughly politicized, leaving Montanans guessing what may or may not be true about House Resolution 1505.

Lester Osborn Bauska, 92

Lester Osborn Bauska, 92, passed away on Friday, Nov. 11, 2011, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Candidates vow to push for states' rights

Gubernatorial candidate Bob Fanning announced in Kalispell Wednesday that Flathead resident Chuck Baldwin will be his running mate, and the two made it clear that states’ rights will be the major theme of their campaign.

Jacqueline Ann Taylor Hamilton, 59

Jacqueline Ann Taylor Hamilton died Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center from cardiac arrest, after months of complications from a gastric bypass.

Flathead Food Bank Turkey

Skip Stout, left, hands Nick Riley a box of donated turkeys to put in the freezer at the Flathead Food Bank Wednesday afternoon. The Food Bank still needs more than four hundred turkeys to fill their quota.

House Fire Clean Up

Joe Testa of the Bad Rock Fire Department sprays water as an excavator works to expose hot spots in the basement of a two-story house that caught fire early Wednesday morning.

House fire

Joe Testa of the Badrock Fire Department sprays water as an excavator works to expose hot spots in the basement of a two-story house that burned Wednesday morning.

Bob Fanning and Chuck Baldwin press conference

Lieutenant governor candidate Chuck Baldwin stands at the back of the room as his running mate Bob Fanning steps up to the stage to start a press conference in Kalispell on Wednesday.

Class AA honors volleyball players

Statue projects continue to vex Kalispell officials

Two “heroic-size” bronze animal statues that Kalispell commissioned in 2007 to beautify the intersection of Idaho and Main streets now are coming back to bite city officials.

Man faces new robbery charges

The man charged in the September robbery of Glacier Bank in Lakeside now is facing charges in two earlier robberies in Flathead County.

Doris (Long) Connors, 94

Doris (Long) Connors, 94, died Nov. 12, 2011, in Kalispell, of natural causes.

Candidate names Kalispell man as running mate

Sally June (Howke) Allen, 74

Judges needed for Kalispell speech meet

About 200 judges are needed for the Kalispell Western Regional Speech and Debate Tournament Friday and Saturday.

Great Falls youth charged with sexual assault

Paul Faessel

Paul Faessel sweeps the sidewalk on the corner of 1st Avenue East in downtown Kalispell earlier this year.

Dale Warren Williams, 62

Dale Williams passed away in Kalispell on Nov. 11, 2011.

Bullet fired into neighbor's apartment

The

Attic access

Debbie Pierson unpacks boxes in her new office Tuesday morning on the third floor of the Flathead County Courthouse. Pierson’s office contains an attic access ladder.

This Week in Pictures November 7-13

Thomas Peck, 78

The “Round Mound of Sound” is silent. Tom Peck, “Gramps,” passed away peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 10, 2011, in Mesa, Ariz., at the age of 78.

Barry R. Wood, 81

Barry R. Wood, 81, passed away of heart failure on Nov. 9, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Michael Robert Stricklin, 51

Michael Robert Stricklin, 51, of Lakeside, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer.

Daybook

Mary Carey Torgison, 92

Mary C. Torgison quietly passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, at the age of 92, while residing at St. Luke's Extended Care in Ronan.

Montana State No. 1 in both football polls

It’s been a slow, steady climb up the polls for the Montana State University football team.

Ex-commissioner Dale Williams leaves unique legacy

Former Flathead County Commissioner Dale Williams, known for his iron-fisted style and conservative approach to planning and property-rights issues, died Friday at age 62.

Hearing focuses on Whitefish critical areas law

The Whitefish City-County Planning Board will finalize its recommendations to revamp the city’s critical areas ordinance following a public hearing on Thursday.

Veteran finds answer to WWII mystery

For more than 60 years, Alvia “Alvie” Leighton, 95, wondered what happened to a B-24 Liberator aircraft that never returned from a mission to the base in Australia during World War II.

'Outlaw country' rocker to play local shows

Country rock musician Tim Montana will play two shows in the Flathead Valley this week.

Hunt success still elusive

With less than two weeks remaining in the 2011 general hunting season, hunter success continued at a slow pace as measured at six check stations across Northwest Montana.

Medicare card scam hits valley

Winnie Greenshields, volunteer coordinator of the local Senior Medicare Patrol, warns seniors that two local people have been contacted in a new scam to obtain Medicare card numbers.

Pickup missing wheels, rims after mechanic jailed

A woman calling the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office from U.S. 2 East in Evergreen Sunday reported that she recently had given her truck to a man to do some work on it, but after he got arrested and was put in jail, she found the vehicle with all the wheels and rims missing. The man is still in jail.

Storms make roads treacherous

After the first genuine low-elevation snow squalls of the season settled over Northwest Montana, there was a pile of motor vehicle accidents Monday.

Dale Williams

Dale Williams, shown here in 2002, died Friday at age 62.

Alvie Leighton

Alvia “Alvie” Leighton, 95, wondered for 60 years what happened to a B-24 Liberator aircraft that crashed during World War II. He learned the answer to the decades-long mystery last year after ordering a book on the 90th "Jolly Roger" Bomb Group, in which he served as an engineer.

Thomas Peck

Barry R. Wood

Michael Robert Stricklin

Cross Town Collaboration

Flathead senior Nelson Fortenberry, left, gets called to the front by guest director Geoffrey Boers, a choral professor at the University of Washington in Seattle, at rehearsal on Monday afternoon at Flathead. One hundred and ten choral students from both Glacier and Flathead will are joining forces for the Kalispell AA Cross Town Choral Festival concert at Flathead High School tonight at 7:30. Admission to the event is free.

Snowfall

Ron Clark of Lakeside uses a snowblower to clear his driveway on Monday morning.

Four Northwestern A volleyball players named all-state

Regular season and Northwestern A divisional champion Polson placed two players on the Class A All-State volleyball team, while Whitefish and Libby both had one selection.

Model student

Kendra Anderson reads "Nine Strange Stories" while Michelle Miller styles her hair into a "sidewinder up-do" during a long-hair workshop at Soucie Soucie Hair Design Friday morning.

Wallet reported stolen from auto

Saturday evening a caller on U.S. 93 told the

Monday Profile

Sharon Lamar, a teacher at Bigfork Elementary, displays her new book, "Mountain Wildflowers for Young Explorers."

Wildflowers bring color, inspiration

New children’s book features artwork by Bigfork teacher

Sharon Lamar of Swan Valley is an educator, watercolorist and children's author.

Trash volume down at Flathead County landfill

The amount of trash hauled to the landfill and container sites around Flathead County was down again in September.

Vaughn Norman Gaschet de l'Isle, 65

June L. (Hickenbotham) Roby, 57

Tamarack time

Larch light up Northwest Montana.

Family, volunteers pull together after fire

Ryan Pengelly and his wife Crystal watched volunteers tear apart what remained of their home Saturday.

Whitefish Library changing its hours

Hours at the Whitefish Community Library are to change Dec. 1 as library leaders react to suggestions from the public.

Vickie Lynn Jackson, 55

Vickie Lynn Jackson passed away Monday, Oct. 24, 2011, at her Kalispell residence.

Law enforcement roundup

Officers with the

Lecture focuses on dinosaur eggs, research

Paleontologist Frankie Jackson from Montana State University - Bozeman will deliver two free presentations on paleontology and dinosaur egg research in China at Flathead Valley Community College on Nov. 15.

Charles H. 'Chuck' Domgard, 64

Don't be afraid to say it: 'We are the 1 percent'

It is time to stand up and be counted.

Study: Trout inhibited by temperature

A recently published research paper suggests that maintaining natural temperatures on the Flathead River system may inhibit the movements of invasive lake trout to upstream waters.

Marion Geraldine (Johanson) Ailor, 93

Marion Geraldine (Johanson) Ailor passed away just shy of her 94th birthday, on Nov. 10, 2011, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

Verona Irene Barger, 92

Verona Irene Barger, 92, of Columbia Falls, left family members at her bedside Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, and “went to be with the Lord, fulfilling her strongest desire,” after a long illness.

Barry R. Wood, 81

Barry R. Wood, 81, passed away of heart failure on Nov. 9, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Vaughn Norman Gaschet de l'Isle, 65

Vaughn Norman Gaschet de l'Isle, 65, passed away peacefully on Oct. 23, 2011.

Picking Up the Pieces

Crystal Atchinson, sister of Ryan Pengelly, and other volunteers sort through the fire damaged remains as they take part in a community clean up effort on Saturday afternoon at Forest Acres. More than 20 volunteers turned up to help with the project.

AA football semis: Billings West wallops Glacier

BILLINGS - A Glacier football season during which the Wolfpack won its first playoff game in the program's history came to an end Friday.

Class A state volleyball: Polson, Whitefish bow out on Day 2

BOZEMAN - There weren't any smiles when the Polson Lady Pirates left the locker room Friday at the Brick Breeden Fieldhouse.

Bravettes ousted by Bozeman in AA state volleyball

BOZEMAN - It wasn't the way they wanted to go out - not by a long shot.

Wolfpack loses out to Hawks in AA state volleyball

BOZEMAN - The Bozeman Hawks got a second chance on Friday - and they made the most of it.

Friday Night Fights

Andrew Hawk, right, takes a swing at Elijiah Weller, both of Kalispell, during Bout 3 of the Friday Night Fights. Hawk won with a majority decision.

First Night festival hits funding roadblock

If you’re a fan of great music, supporting local artists and need something for the whole family to do on New Year’s Eve, consider First Night Flathead.

School website opens to public comment

Kalispell Public Schools have a new avenue for the public to comment.

Doris D. Gilbertson, 94

A time to honor/Veterans Day 2011

Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely gives the keynote address during a Veterans Day ceremony at Depot Park in Kalispell on Friday morning.

House fire in Evergreen

Firefighters work to put out a house that caught on fire on Helena Flats Road Friday afternoon.

National Flood Services Donates Thousands of Pounds of Food to Food Bank

Customer Service Support department arranged their donation to go along with a Humpty Dumpty theme. All total National Flood Services donated between seven and eight thousand pounds of food to the Flathead Food Bank.

Kalispell Model

Kendra Anderson reads "Nine Strange Stories" while Michelle Miller styles her hair into a Sidewinder Up-do during a long-hair workshop at Soucie Soucie Salon & Spa Friday morning.

Veterans Day at Depot Park

Retired Maj. Gen. Paul Vallely gives the keynote address during a Veterans Day ceremony at Depot Park in Kalispell on Friday morning.

Veterans Day Ceremony

City manager

Kalispell City Manager Jane Howington, left, is pictured in August at a forum in Kalispell. On the right is Kalispell Mayor Tammi Fisher.

Kalispell city manager resigning

Kalispell City Manager Jane Howington said Friday that she will resign at the end of December to take a similar job in Newport, Rhode Island.

AA football semis: Glacier Wolfpack wary of Billings West

At this point of the football season, you just have to believe you belong.

Bravettes fall to Bengals in second round at AA state volleyball

BOZEMAN - When a lot of time and effort is put into something - and it doesn't work out ... that can be tough to take.

Billings Senior sweeps Wolfpack in state AA volleyball opener

BOZEMAN - As advertised.

Whitefish, Polson drop 1st round matches at Class A state volleyball

BOZEMAN - It was quick, but not necessarily painless.

'Dateline' story on crash expected to air tonight

After a week’s delay, NBC’s “Dateline” has rescheduled for tonight a show about the high-profile Flathead Valley case of a teenager convicted for murder for a car crash that killed two people.

Rep. Rehberg rallies crowd in Whitefish

Statue supporters gather in force

Speaking to a standing-room-only crowd of about 200 people at the Whitefish Veterans of Foreign Wars Post on Thursday, Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg urged continued public support for retaining a veterans memorial statue of Jesus Christ on national forest land on the Big Mountain.

Veterans: A salute from 1970

We remember our veterans today at a time when many men and women are serving honorably overseas in armed conflicts and when turmoil at home is raising fundamental questions about our country’s core values. It seems appropriate then to step backward to an earlier troubled time, during the Vietnam War era, and remember what the Inter Lake wrote in 1970 about the veterans who not only protected our country overseas, but then returned to be the backbone of our society at home. Let us never forget them.

Joel Lewis Coyle, 57

Joel Lewis Coyle, 57, of Kalispell, died tragically in an auto accident on Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, in Kalispell.

Boy charged with assault given curfew

Teens deny charges

Two teenage boys charged with assault following an incident on a Glacier High School football bus denied the charges Thursday in their first appearance in Flathead District Court.

County gets no bidders for annex buildings

No one bid on either of the two county annexes at Thursday’s public auction of the buildings.

Turning 11

Charles Gapp is turning 11 years old on 11/11/11.

Glacier football playoffs

Glacier defensive back Adam Cebulla (15) and quarterback Taylor Hulslander (7) joke on the sideline during Glacier's playoff victory over Billings Senior last Friday night at Legends Stadium.

500 mile club

Tricia Lake, left, helps students cross U.S. 2 after completing their weekly fundraising walk on Monday afternoon. The students are part of the 500 Mile Club, a program designed to get children active while also raising money for Smith Valley School’s Parent Teacher Club.

Turning of the Larch

A Burlington Northern Santa Fe train makes it's way north of Whitefish on Wednesday morning.

Tamarack time

Larch pine needles contrast sharply with darker evergreens.

Two Vehicle Crash at Middle Road and Grosney Cross

First responders gather around two vehicles involved in a crash on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of Middle Road and Grosney Cross east of Kalispell.

Annual International Gift Festival

Erma Gladieux, left, and Mary Bond, both of Columbia Falls peruse the items on display at the Annual International Gift Festival at the Mountain View Mennonite Church on Thursday morning. The fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m on Saturday.

Denny Rehberg

Then-Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., gives a talk in Whitefish in 2011.

Rep. Rehberg rallies crowd in Kalispell

Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., talks about defending the World War II-era statue of Jesus Christ on Big Mountain at the Whitefish VFW Post 276 Thursday afternoon. Next to Rehberg is state Sen. Ryan Zinke, R-Whitefish.

Curfew imposed on alleged teen assailant

Two teenage boys charged with assault following an incident on a Glacier High School freshman football bus denied the charges Thursday in their first appearance in Flathead District Court.

Red-tailed Hawk Takes Flight

A Red-tailed Hawk sits perched on a power pole Wednesday afternoon.

Rising Moon

The moon rises over the Swan Mountain Range Wednesday evening.

Bravettes, Wolfpack ready for state volleyball

A moment of stillness

Clouds are perfectly reflected in the calm surface of Upper Stillwater Lake on Wednesday morning.

Irate woman breaks windows, attacks man

Deputies with the

New option surfaces for Whitefish school

A new plan for how the city of Whitefish can help fund a proposed Whitefish High School renovation project without dipping too deep into its tax-increment financing reserves was well-received by the Whitefish City Council on Monday.

A birthday of a lifetime

Fifth-grader Charles Gapp is getting ready for the birthday of a lifetime on Friday as he turns 11 years old on Nov. 11, 2011.

Couple celebrates 50th anniversary

Jerry and Jo Lynn Yenne are celebrating big-time on Friday — 11/11/11 — and not just because it’s their 50th wedding anniversary.

Children's book author

Laura Rhodes self-published a children's book titled "The First Snowflake of Winter."

A Veteran Remembers

David Hadly points to Michael Nathe of Montana, in a photograph of himself, center, and some of his fellow West Point graduates.

Pela Beauty Academy

Kimberly Carpenter, a student at the Pela Beauty Academy, curls the hair of a "Molly Head" Monday morning at the Pela Beauty Academy in the Mountain Mall in Whitefish. The heads are made with real hair that is processed to withstand heat.

Mayor-Elect John Muhlfeld

John Muhlfeld won the Whitefish mayoral election on Tuesday night.

Three incumbents return to Kalispell Council

Four seats on the Kalispell City Council were open this election cycle, but Phil Guiffrida III will be the only new face next year, according to unofficial election results tabulated on Tuesday night.

New face to join C.F. Council

Darin Fisher will be a new face on the Columbia Falls City Council, according to unofficial election results released Tuesday night.

Whitefish 'doughnut' deal repealed

Whitefish city voters have thrown out a 2010 planning agreement for the two-mile "doughnut" area around Whitefish.

Drunk man enters; weird questions ensue

The

Casino robbed over weekend

Detectives with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office are following up on a handful of leads related to the robbery of Magic Diamond Casino on U.S. 2 in Evergreen early Saturday morning.

County offices making the move into newly renovated courthouse

At long last, it’s move-in time at the renovated Flathead County Courthouse.

Council slams barn door on ducks in city

A woman’s push to keep ducks inside the city limits was thwarted Monday when the Kalispell City Council heard from people with complaints about her waterfowl.

Fair offers resources for people with disabilities

For the first time on Saturday, Nov. 12, more than 30 agencies, speakers, vendors and special guests will come together for a free comprehensive informational forum for the more than 10,000 people in the valley with disabilities.

Longtime coach gets 'Spirit of Whitefish' award

Terry Nelson succinctly remembers a statement made by one of his Whitefish High School boys golf team standouts a few years ago: “Our coach never talks about winning.”

Hazel A. (Streitt) Davis, 83

Hazel A. (Streitt) Davis, 83, of Kalispell, passed away Nov. 4, 2011, in Kalispell.

Minnie Ethel Krause, 90

Mona Gail Ekert Benson, 71

Mona Gail Ekert Benson, 71, passed away peacefully on Saturday Nov. 5, 2011, at her home in Whitefish.

Thomas Calvin Harmon, 97

Finishing touches at the courthouse

A crew member works on the landscaping in front of the courthouse on Tuesday morning.

Moving into the Courthouse

Mike Hovila of the Building Maintenance crew moves a filing cabnet into the third floor of the newly renovated courthouse on Tuesday morning.

Lewis David Mountjoy

Lewis David Mountjoy, 84, of Hot Springs, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011.

Ballots due today for city elections

Today is election day for voters in Kalispell, Columbia Falls, Whitefish and Bigfork.

Flathead, Glacier players named all-state in soccer

Three players from both Flathead and Glacier have earned Class AA all-state soccer honors.

Showcase: Stars shine bright on night for soccer

The first Flathead Rapids Senior Showcase and Valley Cup soccer games featured three competitive matches before a large turnout last Friday at Whitefish's Memorial Field.

Veteran loses everything, including medals, in house fire

A young Army veteran just back from active duty in Afghanistan, his wife and his mother lost everything — including the soldier’s numerous military medals and citations — in a mobile-home fire early Monday at Forest Acres near Whitefish.

Land swap proposed for Big Mountain statue

A land swap has been proposed to defuse the controversy over a statue of Jesus Christ atop Big Mountain.

Fatal crash still under investigation

Authorities on Monday released the name of a Kalispell man who died last Friday when two pickups collided head-on north of Evergreen on U.S. 2.

School lunch with a local flavor

With more than 4,000 meals served a day in Kalispell schools, Jenny Montague’s new position as food service director for District 5 is an important one.

Police seek man who stole deposit bag

Sunday evening, deputies with the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office looked for a man who reportedly stole a cash deposit bag left sitting on the counter at a business on Montana 35 east of Kalispell. The clerk was about to make a money drop and left the bag on the counter when the suspect came in and grabbed it. Sheriff Chuck Curry said Monday morning that detectives were reviewing surveillance footage from the business and continuing the investigation.

This Week in Pictures October 31-November 6

Forest Acres Fire

A trailer burned down in the Forest Acres Mobile Home Park early Monday morning.

Pairings, times set for state volleyball tournament

Flathead, Glacier, Polson and Whitefish will open play on Thursday at the All-Class State Volleyball Tournament at Brick Breeden Fieldhouse on the campus of Montana State University in Bozeman.

Restoring a piece of Kalispell's past

Gus Gustafson, a former firefighter, points out areas of the American-LaFrance fire truck they want to restore on Friday morning at the Kalispell Fire Department.

Firefighters aim to restore vintage pumper

A piece of Kalispell's firefighting history may be getting a second lease on life.

Whitefish council tackles City Hall, high school

The Whitefish City Council has two big-ticket discussions on tap at tonight's meeting: How to move forward with a decision for a new City Hall location and how to use tax increment money for high school improvements.

Monday Profile

K.C. Voermans, of Whitefish, stands next to a giant termite mound she saw during her trip to South Africa in 2010.

Traveler's wanderlust takes her to far-flung places

Whitefish resident K.C. Voermans said growing up in a military family often on the move might have spurred her love of travel and adventure and her desire to experience the world's different cultures and landscapes.

Caller reports kids trying to break into shed

Shortly after midnight Sunday, a caller on North Main Street told the

Malta manhandles Bigfork

BIGFORK - The journey off the field and down hill back to the locker room for the Bigfork Vikings football team Saturday was a slow, painful walk.

Whitefish Championship Volleyball

Emily Sullivan of Whitefish dives for the ball during the Northwestern A divisional volleyball title match with Polson on Saturday afternoon in Whitefish.

Polson spikers division champs

WHITEFISH - It's been a long fall season for the Polson Pirate volleyball team.

Big plays help Miles City slip by Polson

POLSON - Polson's unbeaten season came to a screeching halt Saturday as defending state champion Miles City edged the Pirates 7-6 to advance in the Class A football playoffs.

Bigfork loses in the quarterfinals

Bigfork's Connor Coleman (45) takes down Malta quarterback Kendall Denham (8) during Bigfork's loss to Malta in the quarterfinal game of the Class B Tournament Saturday afternoon.

Class B Quarterfinals

How can Montana civil law protect students?

There are many harmful schoolyard incidents that seem to be on the increase right here in Montana, including Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish. This leads to vulnerability among the younger students along with escalating risk of injury or harm.

Auditorium loan paid off

The next time John Kramer and Richard and Carol Atkinson take in an evening of live theater at the Whitefish Middle School auditorium, it will be an entirely new experience.

Whitefish puts out call for board members

The city of Whitefish has openings on several boards and committees.

Fees total $6,709 for new home

Kalispell charges impact fees for new construction, expansions and additions that add demand for city services.

Hike 734

This summer, a Kalispell man hiked every trail in Glacier National Park — all 734 miles of them. Jake Bramante shares photos and memories from the adventure with the Inter Lake.

Helping local economy take off

Once again, the Flathead Valley is home to an innovative, budding industry with plenty of economic development potential.

Walter Vrooman, economic equality, Occupy Wall Street, and other lost causes

As we watch the swirling turbulence of social upheaval that is known as Occupy Wall Street, there is a temptation to credit it with good intentions (change for the better) and then to wish for its success (hope against hope).

Paying for Kalispell's growth is a work in progress

At its most basic premise, the idea behind Kalispell’s impact fees is that growth should pay for growth and not be subsidized by other taxpayers and ratepayers.

Assisted-living center takes shape

A new 39-unit assisted-living facility in Columbia Falls will be ready for occupancy in February.

Panel suggests axing some city charges

Citing continued economic challenges in Whitefish, a committee tasked with reviewing the resort town’s impact fees has recommended dropping some of the fees.

Dean Curtis Lyon, 63

Dean Curtis Lyon died in Spokane on Oct. 31, 2011.

Warner William Jensen, 70

 Warner William Jensen, 70, passed away suddenly and much unexpectedly on Monday, Oct. 31, 2011, in Kalispell, from a massive brain hemorrhage.

Griffith, Glacier sink Billings Senior

Kyle Griffith was up all night Thursday - for the worst reason.

BillingsWest pulls away from Flathead

BILLINGS - The Golden Bears lived up to their No. 1 billing.

Glacier football playoffs

Glacier celebrates their playoff victory over Billings Senior Friday night at Legends Stadium.

Glacier Football Playoff Win

Kalispell man dies in head-on collision

Dog also killed; 2 people and 1 dog hurt in crash

A 57-year-old Kalispell man is dead following a head-on collision of two pickup trucks on U.S. 2 north of Evergreen Friday afternoon.

Pit bulls clash with people, fowl

The

Boy, 12 recovering from cardiac arrest

Rare genetic disorder causes heart trouble

Sitting on the couch in the family room of his family’s Columbia Falls home, Beau Bronson looks like an average sixth-grader.

Whitefish candidate joins U.S. House race

Whitefish businesswoman Diane Smith is joining the field of Democrats hoping to replace outgoing Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg.

Restoring a Piece of the Kalispell Fire Department's Past

Gus Gustafson, a former firefighter, points out areas of the American LaFrance fire truck they want to restore on Friday morning at the Kalispell Fire Department.

Dave Dedman

Operations Chief Dave Dedman at the Kalispell Fire Department on Friday morning.

Impact Fees

Expansion to the City of Kalispell Wastewater Treatment Plant was funded with revenue brought in from impact fees.

Terry Nelson

Terry Nelson, a longtime golf coach for Whitefish High School, will receive the Spirit of Whitefish Award on Saturday.

Assessing the impact

Expansion of Kalispell’s Wastewater Treatment Plant was funded partly with revenue from impact fees.

Fatal head on collision on U.S. 2

Emergency crews work to free a woman from a Dodge Ram that was involved in a head-on collision on U.S. 2 Friday afternoon.

New Food Service Director

A student at Glacier reaches for one of the healthier options now available for lunch on Thursday afternoon.

Jennifer Montague

Hike 734

Photos courtesy of Jake Bramante. If you take the boat tour from Waterton and pay attention to the tour guides, they'll point out the Citadel Peaks. These unique spires line the end of a ridge named Porcupine Ridge. You get to stare at these peaks if you take off west towards Kintla and Bowman Lakes or if you head south towards Kootenai Lake. This was where I snapped the photo as I was heading over to climb up to Porcupine Lookout. More information of Bramante's project is available online at www.hike734.com

Pyramid Peak

Bramante says, "As you take the Northern Highline Trail south towards Granite Park Chalet, you see a little spur trail for the Sue Lake Overlook. Do it. This picture is the view from the overlook and one can't take a bad picture there."

Wolfpack pulls it out in fifth set

Two student-made banners hanging high above Glacier's gymnasium floor were emblazoned with the words "dominate" and "devastate."

Bravettes drill Big Sky in volleyball play-in match

No letdowns, no third set naps and no sweat.

Glacier's home, but draws tough foe - Senior

A lot of ‘firsts' have come and gone over the past five years for the Glacier High School football team.

Flathead heads east to face top seed West

The four-game losing streak?

Glacier Class AA Volleyball Play-in

Glacier sophomore Hannah Atlee (28) jumps to block at shot by Hellgate junior Melody McDaniels (7) during Glacier's five set win over Hellgate in the Class AA play-in game Thursday evening at Glacier High School.

Flathead Class AA Volleyball Play-in

Flathead junior Emily Russell (3) cheers after a point during Flathead's playoff play-in win over Missoula Big Sky Thursday night at Flathead High School.

Loan program designed for veterans

The Montana Board of Housing has launched a new home loan program aimed at helping Montana veterans become first-time homeowners or homeowners after three years without owning a home.

Website offers career searches

Flathead Valley Community College has launched Career Coach, an online tool that allows people to explore career opportunities in Northwest Montana.

Man pleads guilty to theft of money

A 63-year-old Kalispell man pleaded guilty to theft of government money Wednesday in U.S District Court in Missoula.

Colorado man pleads innocent to rape charges

A Colorado man charged with sexual assault and sexual intercourse without consent pleaded not guilty Thursday morning in Flathead District Court.

John Robert 'Bob' Grinde, 89

Baucus praises student deficit cut proposals

Montana’s Democratic Sen. Max Baucus has praised recommendations for deficit reductions submitted to him by a group of Flathead Valley Community College students in the elite Scholars program.

Lillian Isabel Nelson, 2 weeks

Lillian Isabel Nelson “gently left this world to be in heaven” on Oct. 31, 2011, in Whitefish.

Smoke-filled skies

Dennyson Logging Inc. performs a controlled burn on the hills about one mile west of Foy’s Lake Thursday afternoon. Greg Dennyson said the burn was part of a fuels reduction and forest health project they were doing as logging season closes. That included burning trees diseased with mistletoe.

Playoffs return to Kalispell

Class AA football playoff action returns to Kalispell for the first time since the fall campaign of 2005.

Mary Louise (DesRosier)  Babcock, 78

Controlled Burn near Foys Lake

Dennyson Logging Inc., performs a controlled burn on the hills about one mile west of Foys Lake on Thursday afternoon. Greg Dennyson said the burn was part of a fuel reduction and forest health project they were doing as they come to the close of the logging season.

An Icy Morning

Ice crystals form on fallen leaves on Thursday morning in Kalispell.

Election ballots must be returned by Tuesday

Voters are running out of time to complete and return the ballots they received in the mail for city elections under way in Kalispell and Whitefish.

Kalispell knitter drapes Spirit in style

Montana State University's bobcat sculpture at the center of the school's Alumni Plaza was looking a bit cooler Friday - well, warmer actually.

'Dateline' airs story on crash, trial

NBC's "Dateline" on Friday night takes a look at the high-profile Flathead Valley case of a teenager convicted for murder for a car crash that killed two people.

Cynthia Buck

Cynthia Ray Buck, 47

Cynthia Ray Buck, 47, passed away Sunday, Oct. 30, 2011, in Kalispell.

Drug deal reported at skate park

The

Wilderness bill a good start

Sen. Max Baucus took a big step with his recent announcement to proceed with wilderness legislation for the Rocky Mountain Front, but the question is how many more steps will he be able to make in advancing it.

Fall Chores

Beth McGuire of Kalispell raking leaves in her yard on Wednesday afternoon.

MSU Bobcat Sweater

Kalispell Knitter Melanie Cross, right, stands with her husband, Andy Hurst, after placing a sweater she knitted on the Montana State Bobcat statue on Friday, Oct.  28, at Montana State University.

UAS Flight Demonstration

Unmanned Systems Inc. demonstrates the capabilities of their unmanned aircraft Tuesday afternoon.

Wildlife Wednesday

A Canada goose makes a landing in a field off of Birch Creek Road Wednesday morning.

Timber Creek Village

Glenn Schenavar, left, and John Forkner working in what will be the game room on Thursday at Timber Creek Village in Columbia Falls.

cupy movement: Gets help from liberal groups

ath Do Us Part?: Not for these celeb marriages

'Lost' man winds up in woman's bedroom

The

Drones could be wings of the future

Maybe it had the appearance of being an undersized aircraft, a radio-controlled toy, but backers of the Center for Remote Integration see big things for Montana in the unmanned aircraft that was demonstrated on a remote airstrip south of Columbia Falls on Tuesday.

Ancil 'Hank' Conley, 83

Ancil "Hank" Conley, 83, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011, in Kalispell.

Injured man among world's elite skydivers

The Whitefish skydiver who suffered severe injuries when he crashed prior to a University of Montana football game in Missoula on Saturday is one of just eight skydivers worldwide who have participated in all of the World Team’s record-setting jumps.

Homicide suspect arrested in Plains

The suspect in a Texas shooting death 30 years ago apparently was living under an assumed name with his wife and family in a Plains trailer park, according to law enforcement officials.

Grace (Guckenburg) Carlson, 90

Burton Lee 'Burt' Arnoux, 82

Burton Lee "Burt" Arnoux, 82, passed away Oct. 24, 2011, at the Evergreen Convalescent Center in Hot Springs.

City, county begin to chart options for governance

The committee that drafted a revised interlocal agreement last year for the planning “doughnut” around Whitefish will meet Thursday to discuss how to move forward as the question of who will govern the doughnut area hangs in the balance.

David Gonzales

Structure fire near Echo Lake

Bigfork Fire Department, Ferndale Fire Department and Creston Fire Department responded to a structure fire off the Swan Highway near Echo Lake Tuesday afternoon.

Remote control

Don Bintz, left, and Justin Sands take turns controlling the Sandstorm unmanned aircraft at an airstrip south of Columbia Falls Tuesday afternoon.

UAS Flight Demonstration

The Sandstone unmanned aircraft has an experimental Airworthiness Certificate from Federal Aviation Administration allowing it to fly above the 400-foot flight celiing imposed on standard remote control planes.

This Week in Pictures October 24-30

Charles 'Chuck' Franklin Roach, 86

Charles “Chuck” Franklin Roach, 86, of Kalispell, died on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at his home.

Olga B. (Busskohl) Adney, 93

Robert Gene Burke, 84

Robert Gene Burke, 84, passed away Oct. 28, 2011, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

Donald C. 'Don' Pollack, 84

Woman's body sent to crime lab

A homeless woman who was found dead Sunday in a shack off of Appleway Drive has been identified as Cynthia Buck, 47.

Boy's return to school postponed

A freshman charged with assaulting his teammates on a bus has not returned to Glacier High School but is taking classes elsewhere in the school district.

Jeep still smoking after accident

The Flathead County Sheriff’s Office got a report regarding a white Jeep completely burned up after a fire off Lower Lost Prairie Road Sunday morning. The reporting party said that the vehicle was still smoking. The owner of the vehicle was contacted; apparently he’d had an accident early in the morning.

Wolf hunt totals 44 animals

So far this hunting season, hunters have taken 44 wolves in Montana.

Marion voters to be asked to OK school project expansion

Marion voters are being asked this month to approve a $500,000 bond issue to expand Marion School.

Some milfoil removed from Beaver Lake

Mounds of matted feathery green noxious weeds were pulled from a small area in Beaver Lake on Monday morning as a group of people dedicated to keeping aquatic invasive species out of Flathead Basin rivers and lakes took aim at Eurasian water milfoil.